Michaela Meade
The Northern Councils Alliance (NCA) has called for support for Melbourne’s northern region to aid its COVID-19 recovery.
The NCA includes mayors and chief executives from Melbourne’s seven northern councils: Whittlesea, Hume, Banyule, Darebin, Mitchell, Moreland and Nillumbik.
According to an NCA statement, 2022 represents an “unprecedented” opportunity for the group to continue to collaborate and advocate around key projects with region-wide benefits to help build a “more sustainable, resilient and prosperous” region.
The group called for federal and state government support in doing so, as it will assist in recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.
“Whilst the NCA acknowledges and recognises the various federal and state initiatives that have been funded over recent years across the region, namely around transport, education, health and community infrastructure, significantly more is required to help build a stronger north over the coming years,” the NCA statement said.
“As a region that has experienced the brunt of the health, wellbeing and economic consequences associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCA reaffirmed the various key projects and initiatives, that with federal and state government investment, can act as the catalysts to ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts across the north and which can create new job and socio-economic outcomes for the entire region.”
The NCA said key projects for the region included; the Broadmeadows revitalisation, MFix (Epping Innovation and Food Export Hub), the tram route 86 extension, the Suburban Rail Loop, various investments in public transport for bus networking and rail infrastructure such as the Upfield line extension and Wollert rail extension, and the Greening the North and Northern Cultural Trails.
In the statement, the NCA said it looked forward to engaging with both levels of government ahead of the 2022 budget and election cycles to help secure commitments and investments for the region that could have a “lasting positive impact”.
